ON A MISSION FROM GOD

Hello friends and neighbors...whatcha doin' this Labor Day Weekend?

My son...could be doing a thousand different things with a thousand different people including friends...and girlfriend...BUT...he chose...to go to Biloxi...to work on a 95 year old lady's house that was touched by Hurricane Katrina.

WOW!?! From the moment Phillip Stephen Boyd entered into our lives...we have prayed blessings over him...and tried to live out our faith before him. Now when I say live out our "faith"...I'm not talking about some creed or religious mumbo-jumbo...but a viable, practical, nitty gritty, get your hands dirty type of faith.

That's why as a small tyke...he was taken to Mexico...and slept on the floors of an orphanage (along with the scorpions) and down to Peru...traveling down the Amazon River to villages in the jungles...and even taking a quick dip with his old Dad in the Amazon (he was around 8 years old at the time).

Phillip also...for 4 or 5 years...would take on the roll of a servant at Wherry Housing...along side men of God like John Key (along with the woman of God, Shirley Key)...and Bruce Coble (along with the woman of God, Jill Coble). As my mentor Bruce says, "Phillip gets it." This means that Phillip has insight into what it means to be a servant of God...as he serves others.

Now Phillip...has gone on mission trips without his Mom and Dad...as he steps out to serve in Biloxi (3rd trip down)...to help those who are unable to help...or give anything back in return.

It's moments like these that Brenda and I...sit back and think..."We must have done something right."

Now we are not naive enough to think that our son is a PERFECT SAINT. I have yet to attain the official Sainthood status...why should I expect my son to be the perfect prototype for a teenager...HOWEVER...he is a great kid.

I love the passage in the First Epistle of John...that speaks of the progression of maturity in a child.

"I am writing to you, LITTLE CHILDREN...because your SINS ARE FORGIVEN you..for His name's sake. I am writing to you FATHERS, because you KNOW HIM who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you , YOUNG MEN, because you HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ON. I have written to you, CHILDREN, because you KNOW THE FATHER. I have written to you, fathers, because YOU KNOW HIM who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, YOUNG MEN, because you ARE STRONG, AND THE WORD OF GOD ABIDES IN YOU...and you HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE."
(I John 2:12-14)

As Phillip transitions from a little child...to a young man...to a father... Brenda and I stand in faith with full expectancy that all of these things will become manifested in Phillip. We already see glimmers of these things happening in him. Our son...has purpose, destiny, a plan, that is continuously unfolding before him.

These 18 years have had their ups and downs...as Phillip stretches out and finds out who he is...but even in the good, the bad, and yes even the ugly times...we know that God is at work...and is able to use all of these things to mold and shape our son into the man of God he is.

"And in the same way the Spirit also helps our WEAKNESSES; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deeps for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He INTERCEDES for the saints ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. And we know that God causes ALL THINGS (the good, the bad, and the ugly)...to WORK TOGETHER... to those who love God...to those WHO are CALLED according to HIS PURPOSE." (Romans 8:26-28)

Guess what...it really does not matter if you are 18 years old or 118 years old...God has purpose for your life. You are called...and He is using the good, the bad, and the ugly that has been in your life...for preparation for His Purpose. God did not necessarily cause the bad and the ugly...but he sure can take it and turn it around for His purpose in you. It's like...Joseph...when his brothers, who sold him into slavery, faked his death...came crawling back to Joseph in fear and trembling...and Joseph responded by stating..."You meant if for harm...God meant it for good." (Read the Joseph story in Genesis).

Just like John wrote about the progression of life...look for these things in your life:

1. Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake
2. You know Him who has been from the beginning
3. You have overcome the evil one
4. You are strong
5. The Word of God abides in you

I expect these things in my life...in Brenda's life...in Phillip's life...and in YOUR life also.

Love and Servanthood Kisses
Rodney "HOLY SWEAT" Boyd